USC Trojans football are one of two teams with this 2025 recruiting bragging right

On3 posted a graphic to Twitter/X featuring college football programs with commitments from five-star athletes on Tuesday. The post was a reminder that the USC Trojans are one of two schools with pledges from three five-star players.

USC currently has hard commitments from five-star prospects Justus Terry, Julian Lewis, and Isaiah Gibson. Assuming all three players sign with the Trojans, Lincoln Riley will bring his best class to Los Angeles since making the jump from Oklahoma. Riley’s 2024 class was loaded with talent but lacked a five-star headliner.

I expect a college football head coach to make a recruiting impact in year three, and Riley is on track. The high profile transfers Riley brought to Southern California are moving out, and he’s had ample time to establish a recruiting base. Thankfully, his 2025 momentum demonstrates that the head coach from Muleshoe, Texas, has adapted to his current surroundings.

There was a lot of talk that Riley wouldn’t succeed at a school with a spotlight as big as Hollywood. However, as far as recruiting is concerned, the 40-year-old is proving doubters wrong. Moreover, the USC Trojans head coach is attracting recruits from SEC recruiting hotbeds. Few fans outside Southern California thought such was possible.

Indeed, Terry, Lewis, and Gibson are all high school players from Georgia and within the Georgia Bulldogs recruiting territory.

College football recruiting is more unpredictable now than ever. A “hard commit” in June can quickly turn into a National Signing Day flip in mid-December. Thus, getting overly excited about a 2025 recruiting class this soon is impossible. Conversely, I cannot help but feel confident in what Riley is doing at USC and believe he will finish with a top-five group.

The Ohio State Buckeyes also hold commitments from a trio of high school players with five stars.